Minister in the South African presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says four suspects remain in custody following arrests linked to three murders in Ekurhuleni, while investigators continue pursuing several people of interest.
The South African cabinet has called for a wider societal response to gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide as the number of women killed in Gauteng rose to 13, following a series of murders in Ekurhuleni.
Speaking during yesterday’s post-cabinet media briefing, Ntshavheni said the cabinet had joined the nation in condemning and mourning the brutal murders of nine women in various parts of Ekurhuleni, with the number of women killed in Gauteng having risen to 13.
The cabinet welcomed the arrest of four people in connection with three of the murders.
The four remain in custody after being denied bail in three separate court appearances.
Ntshavheni said the cabinet supported president Cyril Ramaphosa’s directive for a multidisciplinary investigation team led by the South African Police Service to speedily arrest and prosecute those responsible for the killings.
She said the investigation was continuing and the team was pursuing several people of interest.
Ntshavheni said the rise in GBV, particularly femicide, required action from men, families, communities and society more broadly.
She said femicide could not be tolerated and that the intentional killing of women by loved ones or people close to them required a collective response.
“Because the murder of women intentionally by their loved ones or people close to them cannot be tolerated by any society, by any community. And it requires all our efforts to respond.”
Ntshavheni said law enforcement also had to ensure those responsible were found swiftly and faced prosecution.
The country’s laws had been amended to ensure GBV and femicide crimes were dealt with more harshly, including provisions allowing for the denial of bail, she said.
The government would continue working to promote the security and well-being of women and ensure women and children were safe in their communities.
“Let us all, men and women, take a stand against violence against women, and play our part in ending the scourge of gender-based violence.”
The cabinet also called on anyone with information about a crime to report it to the police.
She said the minister for social development and the minister for women, youth and persons with disabilities would also brief the cabinet on calls received through the relevant support mechanisms. – IOL Politics
